Silver Valley Mining Wars: Part 2
As a boy, I looked forward to driving to my grandparent’s home in Gilroy, Calif., on the major holidays. On one visit my grandfather took me into his bedroom and showed me his Colt New Service .38 caliber revolver. I was stunned! What was my quiet, peace-loving grandpa doing with this monstrous revolver? That’s when I first heard about the mining wars, the Western Federation of Miners and Harry Orchard, and why these were an important part of my family history.
Grandpa, age 27, had met and married my grandma, age 16, in November 1904. At the time, he was the treasurer/auditor of the Vindicator Mine in Victor, Colo., where they had a home. The mining wars were being fought daily between WFM union members and non-union “scabs.” They were killing and maiming each other over who would dictate the terms of employment governing the lives of the miners.
Grandpa was walking to work one morning when someone shot at him. The next day, he purchased the revolver. He had refused to join the union, WFM, which had organized miners in Utah, Idaho, Colorado and Montana. One name that was on everyone’s mind as the most likely person to be involved with the increasing number of assassinations, bombing of large groups of miners and buildings in both Colorado and Idaho was Harry Orchard. Grandpa said he had never spoken to him but had seen him frequently around town.
Orchard had a long arrest record which included fraud, bigamy (two wives), assault and murder. He rarely did time for any of these crimes.
He had been hired by the WFM president William Haywood to serve the union by performing jobs many would call heinous crimes. He became most infamous for bombing train stations when one shift of miners was waiting to change shifts with the next shift.
The crime that brought Orchard down occurred Dec. 30, 1905, when former Idaho Gov. Frank Steunenberg, returning home from his work, opened the gate to his front yard. Orchard had attached several sticks of dynamite to the gate, which exploded killing the governor. This act focused national attention of the mining wars and the issues generating so much mayhem.
Orchard was arrested and confessed to the murder. Orchard implicated four union officials, including the union president William Haywood. All were defended by attorney Clarence Darrow until Orchard worked a special deal that assured him life, instead of a noose. Darrow dropped him as a client. The others were extradited to Idaho where they were acquitted.
Orchard was sent to the Idaho State Penitentiary to serve a life sentence. While there he converted to Christianity. He led such an exemplary life that he was allowed to live in a cottage on the prison grounds where he grew strawberries and managed the prison’s poultry farm. He died in prison in 1954.
The Museum of North Idaho’s renovation is progressing to the point where we believe we will have all the needed exterior work done before winter sets in. Drive by and see how the new paint job, landscaping, etc. has reinstated much of the house initial beauty.
Richard Sheldon is a member of the Museum of North Idaho Board of Directors.
